Air-lock apparatus for caissons.



PATENTED AUG. 22, 1905.

E; W. MOIR.

AIR LOOK APPARATUS FOR GAISSONS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

vm'TMEwEs 6760 W M W,

A TORN E! S UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST IN. MOIR, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO S. PEARSON AND SON,INCORPORATED, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, A OORPO- RATION OF NEWYORK.

AIR-LOCK APPARATUS FOR CAISSONS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1905.

Application filed March 18, 1905. Serial No. 250,782.

To, (ZZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERNEST W. Mom, a subject of the King of GreatBritain and Ireland, and aresidentof London, England, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Air-Lock Apparatus for Caissons,of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of improvements in the construction of air-lockapparatus for caissons in which excavating-work has to be carried onunder a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure and the materialexcavated has to be taken out through air-locks.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of acaisson provided with my improvements, and Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionat right angles to Fig. 1.

The caisson A may be of any suitable construction, with a cutting edge aat the bot tom and an air-tight floor B. In the drawings I haveillustrated the caisson as one having plugs I) D, which are adapted tobe removed to start tunnel-borings at right angles thereto when thecaisson has been sunk to the desired depth.

Passing vertically through the air-tight floor B is a shaft S, in whichworks a hoisting-cage O. The upper end of the shaft is open to theatmosphere and so arranged that when the cage has been hoisted to thetop a wheeled truck T thereon may be run off on suitable runways to dumpits load. The lower end of the vertical shaft opens into a horizontalair-lock H, which is provided with two doors 71. it, the chamber betweenthe two doors being of sufficient size to contain one of thematerial-trucks T when the inner door is open. The floor of the air-lockchamber is provided with a runway It for the guidance of the wheels ofthe truck. Between the end of the air-lock and the wall of the caisson Ileave suflicient space for a secondary hoisting-cage E, which may bevertically guided in timbers or other means G. This cage F is hoistedand lowered by means of ropes or chains and pulleys controlled from asuitable hoistingengine E. The air lock may be suitably braced by staysor guys 8.

The empty trucks are lowered through the shaft and run off from theplatform of the cage into the air-lock, the outer door it of the latterbeing open for the purpose. The outer door it is then closed and theinner door h is opened and the truck run ofi onto the cage F, which hasbeen raised to proper position to receive it. This cage is then lowered,and the empty truck can then be filled, being run to any desired part ofthe space inclosed within the caisson for the purpose. A loaded truck isrun onto the cage F when the latter is lowered. This cageis then hoistedto a position opposite the end of the airlock, the inner door it isopened, and the truck run into the chamber and the door then closed.Then the outer door h is opened and the truck run onto the cage O, whichcan then be hoisted to the surface.

A passage-way with ladder for the work men may be provided at Palongside the hoisting-shaft, this passage-way opening at its lower endinto the bottom of the shaft. This passage-way may also be utilized forpiping.

I claim as my invention 1. Air-look apparatus, comprising a caissonhaving an air-tight floor, a vertical shaft, a hoisting-cage therein, ahorizontal air-lock at its lower end with arunway in the air-lock and asecondary hoist within the caisson.

2. The combination of a caisson having an air-tight floor with avertical shaft and horizontal air-lock at its lower end and stays tosupport said air-lock.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNEST \V. MOIR.

Witnesses:

O. SEDGWICK, I-IUBERT H0ws0N.

